Chapter 73: Chapter Seventy‑Five: Explorer

Babata was sorting through the miscellaneous items in his storage space, and each item could serve as a treasure for these Earth people.

As long as we can help Luofeng redeem himself, after leaving Earth the master's greater inheritance remains in the Universe Bank; then we only need to persuade Luofeng and these Earth people to keep their distance, so they aren't continually drained by this planet.

The most important and valuable thing in Babata's possession is naturally the core inheritance of Hu Yan Bo of the Inkfall Star lineage. This near‑marquess‑level immortal inheritance is completely priceless, and is something Babata could absolutely not use as a bargaining chip.

Besides the core inheritance, the most important things on Luofeng's cultivation path have also been stored in batches in the Universe Bank.

So actually most of the things in Babata's hands aren't really important; being ruthless, they can serve as bargaining chips in trade with Earth people. Of course, the precondition is that Earth people are willing to show enough sincerity to let Babata and Luofeng leave.

Speaking of the most valuable, the Eternal Body left for Luofeng by the master is actually surplus; as for its value to Earth people, many technologies and knowledge might be more attractive….

However this time, Luofeng seems to have been talking for a while longer; could it be that he wants to avoid directly reaching an agreement with me?

Not long after, when Luofeng opened his eyes again, Babata immediately noticed; he was about to speak, but then sensed that Luofeng's mood was off.

Babata knew this was the other side making another move.

This is also why the Heartnet gives Babata a headache.

Luofeng is just an eighteen‑ or nineteen‑year‑old kid; although he's weathered many storms in just two years, he's still a kid, too easily exploited, and this kind of exploitation is something Babata can't guard against.

The other side moves first, Babata can only counter each move, or keep raising the ransom for himself and Luofeng.

After a moment of silence, Luofeng then asked:

"Babata, we've found a way to leave Earth."

…

Unlike before, this time we need to make the visit in person, with Babata personally piloting the spacecraft to Dragon Gate.

En route.

"Babata, regarding the plan to venture into the Universe, I think we should discuss it properly."

Babata was even more surprised; Luofeng's attitude before entering the Heartnet today was clearly not like this.

Babata knew Luofeng hadn't yet made up his mind to join him in a Universe adventure; the reason he embarked on this journey to find materials for a cosmic spacecraft was merely to prepare for contingencies and look after his own mood.

Babata's lifespan is measured in tens of thousands of years, so seeing through Luofeng's little thought isn't difficult.

But Luofeng, having come out of the Heartnet again, clearly has made some kind of decision; Babata can clearly sense it, and that decision is indeed toward the Universe, yet it's not quite the same as what Babata wants.

Babata also doesn't know what the other side said to Luofeng; having schemed and counter‑schemed, Babata can only lay out his own most thorough plan.

Since Luofeng asked about this, the other side's move doesn't really count.

Even if Babata had guessed it, he's already lost, because he was indeed calculated against.

After the Heartnet opened, Babata only thought about leaving Earth as soon as possible, so naturally he wanted to temporarily avoid factors that would adversely affect Luofeng.

And in Babata's view, something perfectly reasonable doesn't need any embellishment told to Luofeng; it's enough to raise the stakes for this transaction.

"So even if the spacecraft you build, it's hard to guarantee a smooth journey."

"That's right, but Luofeng you should know, in this world nothing goes smoothly; even as powerful as the master fell on Earth, how could I have the ability to guarantee your safety in the Universe?"

"If luck is bad, I could accidentally be shaken to death by the residual battle waves of a strong one while crossing the star sea; that's not impossible."

"But Luofeng, this is the Universe."

"Today I Babata can't even take you off Earth; then you Earth people will forever be unable to leave this star system, because fear stops you, and such people aren't worthy to be inheritors of the Inkfall Star."

"But Luofeng, you are not."

Babata rarely shows such a serious side, because in Babata's data, Earth isn't considered a place worth his serious attention.

"That's right, I'm not." Luofeng said with a smile.

"Babata, I think we should have a frank and open discussion before this transaction."

Luofeng said, and also recounted most of his conversation in the Heartnet with Chen Yang and Yao Jiu.

After Babata finished listening, he fell silent for a moment:

"What you said is also not wrong."

"But this is contrary to my expectation—is the World Tree truly just a local force on your Earth?"

Luofeng shook his head; although he already believed that, he likewise couldn't be certain.

Luofeng: "Do you think this is a scheme?"

Babata: "Not really."

"But how could a chess master let the pawn know his thoughts?"

"Just like our journey's final destination, it's probably already been decided long ago."

After Babata finished speaking, he looked at Luofeng, seeing that Luofeng already seemed indifferent to these topics.

Babata knew he had underestimated this Earth.

The most important ability of the chess player is to make the pawn, even if it knows its own identity, willingly become that pawn.

…

Dong Jun's residence isn't hard to find; the difficulty is that Dong Jun himself is rarely at home.

However, Luofeng and Babata can both be sure that this time they will definitely find him.

"Very welcome, both of you."

This is Luofeng's first formal meeting with Dong Jun; she looks quite ordinary, ordinary to the point of seeming like a woman with no martial prowess.

Of course, "ordinary" refers only to the martial aspect.

Contrary to the first meeting, Dong Jun looks "ordinary" but one can't recall her face; the whole person seems veiled in a mysterious shroud, making her seem unfathomable. Yet the person before us shows no martial power, but her appearance is extraordinarily striking—just a glance and you'll remember her look.

The woman has a plump yet tall figure, dark brown hair down to her waist, skin like clouds, and a fair face with a hint of natural flush.

Most captivating are her heterochromatic eyes—one red, one gold—the patterns in the pupils seem to flow, and deep within the textures lies something that tugs at the heart and mind, making it impossible to look away from those eyes.

"The greater the contrast, the more dangerous it is."

Luofeng jolted awake; it seemed that with that sound he regained his hearing.

The tip of his nose was lightly poked by her finger, and only then did he regain his sense of touch.

Only when the lingering taste of the pancake fruit drifted into my nostrils did my sense of taste return.

Luofeng instinctively stepped back; when his gaze, originally focused on the woman's eyes, shifted, it locked straight onto the tear mole at the corner of her eye.

Seeing Luofeng somewhat wary, Ayun gave a slight smile, turned, and as she walked she said:

"Please come in."

"You don't need to be so on guard; personally coming to greet you is my utmost sincerity."

Luofeng steadied his mind, feigned calm and continued to follow, while in his heart he also communicated with Babata:

"Babata, is this guy really an Earthling?"

Judging by appearance alone—eye color, hair color, skin—one can't say he doesn't look like an Earthling; put tactfully, Earthlings' genes haven't been screened to this extent.

"Luofeng, you actually guessed right."

"If I'm not mistaken, this guy isn't human at all—at least not any human I've encountered."

"Why?"

Do you remember what I told you? In many cosmic nations' core planets, their geniuses can reach a cerebral domain breadth of 30 or even 40 during the Apprentice Stage; higher than that, or even considered geniuses across the whole universe, can reach over a hundred cerebral domain breadth in the Apprentice Stage—that's the limit humans achieve in the Apprentice Stage.

You should know that although humans are considered the pinnacle species in the Universe, they rely not on strong racial talent but on their huge population base, repeatedly breaking through and selecting the best in each life‑evolution leap.

But the strength of the guy before you is only at Planetary Level Nine, yet his cerebral domain breadth is 700. This means he needs do nothing but survive, and slowly he can break through to Stellar Level, Cosmic Level, Domain Lord Level—even the most conservative estimate says he can smoothly reach Domain Lord Level, because the gain such quality brings in life‑evolution leaps is immeasurable.

Upon reaching adulthood he is already a Domain Lord‑level psychic master… and could even approach World Lord level.

The finest human bloodlines can reach Domain Lord level upon adulthood, but that is martial artist talent; the enhancement of martial artist talent naturally pairs with the talent for mental power.

Races that become famous solely through psychic master talent are already rare, and this level of psychic master talent—let alone in humans—is among the very top in the entire Universe.

Luofeng's heart was indeed shocked, yet he heard Dongjun ahead say:

"Speaking ill of others behind their backs is impolite."

It seemed as if one could hear the two people's consciousness communicating.

"Babata?"

I don't know either; maybe she has the talent to hear others' consciousness communication, maybe not.

Ayun turned, sat on the nearby sofa, glanced again at Luofeng, as if giving a teasing smile.

"Don't worry, I guessed it."

"Please have a seat."

The living room's furnishings were quite ordinary; Luofeng sat on the sofa, once again meeting Dongjun's gaze, just as he had the first time he saw her, as if a thin veil covered her face.

"Don't try to use mental power to pierce my disguise, or you'll end up like when you first walked in."

Luofeng naturally complied.

"So, what business do you have with me?"

Luofeng blinked:

"I thought Senior Dongjun would know."

After all, the war trial was originally presided over by Dongjun himself.

Dongjun lightly shook his head: "Whether I know or not, that's still my guess, and telling you is different."

Luofeng nodded.

"I want to join the Explorer Plan."

The information obtained from Yao Jiu, the batch of materials taken by Yunzhong Aviation, was invested into a project called the Explorer Plan.

As for the Explorer Plan, within the World Tree it's considered a moderate secret, but Chen Yang and his siblings, who are also high‑ranking members of the World Tree, know a bit of the inside story.

Led by Yao Jiu, most people in the World Tree hold a rather pessimistic attitude toward contacting cosmic civilizations.

But this does not mean that Earthlings must sit and wait for doom, praying not to be discovered by cosmic civilizations.

The Research Strategy Department where Yao Jiu works is merely a major division of the World Tree's entire research department.

In recent years, much of the research has concerned spaceflight technology, cosmic‑civilization strategic analysis, and even star charts plotted from information gleaned from various civilizations' relics—all of this serves a plan called the Explorer.

Since Luofeng has indicated he has the ability and idea to manufacture spacecraft, and he is also an official Planetary‑level member of the World Tree, Chen Yang and his siblings acting within their rights told Luofeng about the Explorer Plan.

And the person directly responsible for this plan is precisely the woman before you.

"Senior, you just mentioned two people; you should also know about Babata."

I don't know whether you're aware of Babata's intelligence; according to him he is a life‑form evolved from intelligence, a higher‑than‑advanced intelligent life.

As long as he has sufficient navigation ability, he can provide a complete voyage and contact plan, and he also possesses rich cosmic adventure experience, enabling him to resolve many contingencies as much as possible.

I think, no one is more suited than I am.

To be frank, I've come all this way just to fulfill this mission.

Ever since I was chosen to inherit the legacy of Mo Yin Xing, I've been headed for this moment.

Dongjun gazed thoughtfully at Luofeng; behind that thin veil her expression was unreadable, perhaps she was evaluating him.

Seeing Luofeng finish speaking, she then nodded and replied, "Sounds like it's indeed as you said."

But why do you want to go?

For Earth, for Earthlings, for family, for friends, and for our ideals.

Luofeng deliberately avoided the word 'human', because Earth in the face of that term seems too weak and petty, and he also does not want 'Earthling' to be conflated with 'human'.

Ayun gave a faint smile behind the veil that Luofeng couldn't see, for this is the true purpose of this trip.

Luofeng, you probably didn't understand my question.

Luofeng, why do you want to go?

Luofeng lightly lifted the corner of his mouth, slowly adding the final line:

Higher martial arts, a broader world, and the complete legacy of Mo Yin Xing.

Ayun nodded in satisfaction.

Our lives are always selfish and selfless.

Selflessness makes people brave, selfishness makes people wise; this is our most important quality.

Luofeng, please also let go of your sense of fate and think it over carefully.

Explorer's Plan, leaving Earth, leaving hometown, not to mention the dangers in the Universe, this is destined to be a long journey; originally, family, living far from hometown in a distant place takes even longer than living on Earth.

From start to finish, choosing to become a martial artist, choosing to enter Dragon Gate, accepting the Inkfall Star's inheritance—including standing here now—is both the world urging knowledge and your own choice.

At this very moment, the right to choose remains in your hands.

You are still young, the Explorer's Plan is not yet ready, and you still have plenty of time to make choices.

……

On the way here, I had already decided.

Ayun clapped happily.

Thank you, Luofeng, for living up to the world's expectations.

But you still have one final test; do you remember the heart-test when you first entered Dragon Gate? It's similar to that.

Luofeng nodded, showing great confidence.

I am an Illusion Formation Master; this is a profession I named myself, and I don't even know whether such a profession exists in the Universe.

Using sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, intuition, and all senses extended from the six senses together with mental power to construct illusion techniques, every part of my body is a 【gate】 of illusion technique; therefore, seeing my appearance naturally draws one into it.

Dongjun's entire body is the weapon forged by Ayun's utmost effort.

Then, please look at me.